New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Number of medical schools with student-run free clinics has more than doubled

Date:
December 10, 2014
Source:
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association
Summary:
There has been a doubling during the last decade in the number of U.S. medical schools that have student-run free clinics, with more than half of medical students involved with these clinics, according to a study.
Share:
FULL STORY

There has been a doubling during the last decade in the number of U.S. medical schools that have student-run free clinics, with more than half of medical students involved with these clinics, according to a study in the December 10 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on medical education.

Sunny Smith, M.D., of the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues conducted a study to assess whether there has been growth of student-run free clinics (SRFCs) in medical schools and describe the characteristics of these clinics. The first national study of SRFCs conducted in 2005 described 111 SRFCs at 49 Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) member institutions. The researchers developed a 39 item survey with yes/no, multiple-choice, and open-ended responses. SRFCs and their medical student leaders were identified through the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics.

The authors identified SRFCs at 106 of 141 (75.2 percent) U.S. AAMC member institutions. The survey response rate was 81.1 percent (86/106). The 86 responding institutions reported 208 SRFC sites. More than half of medical students were reported to be involved in SRFCs, including first- through fourth­ year students. Fifty-three percent of institutions reportedly offered no academic credit for participation.

The most common core services provided by the SRFCs were outpatient adult medicine, health care maintenance, chronic disease management, language interpreters and social work. The most common diseases treated were diabetes and hypertension.

In open-ended responses, students identified the greatest strengths of SRFCs as serving the underserved and student education. The biggest challenges were obtaining sufficient faculty staffing and funding.

"Despite the lack of academic credit at many institutions, most medical students are volunteering in this setting. Given the ubiquity of SRFCs in the education of future physicians, further research is needed to assess their educational and clinical outcomes," the authors write.

"The lack of funding and sufficient faculty supervisors identified as the biggest challenges in SRFCs are actionable items because institutional support could help stabilize and improve these educational opportunities for years to come."


Story Source:

Materials provided by JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Sunny Smith, Robert Thomas, Michael Cruz, Ryan Griggs, Brittany Moscato, Ashley Ferrara. Presence and Characteristics of Student-Run Free Clinics in Medical Schools. JAMA, 2014; 312 (22): 2407 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2014.16066

Cite This Page:

JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association. "Number of medical schools with student-run free clinics has more than doubled." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 10 December 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141210073905.htm>.
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association. (2014, December 10). Number of medical schools with student-run free clinics has more than doubled. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 3, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141210073905.htm
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association. "Number of medical schools with student-run free clinics has more than doubled." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141210073905.htm (accessed December 3, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES